Canon of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14)

The Canon of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14)

            Composed by Kosmas the Jerusalemite, Bishop of Maiouma (†c.754)

Ὁ Κανών, ὃς τὴν δε τὴν ἀκροστιχίδα φέρει. Σταυρῷ πεποιθώς, ὕμνον ἐξερεύγομαι. Ποίημα τοῦ Κυρίου Κοσμᾶ.   ᾨδὴ α' Ἦχος πλ. δ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Σταυρὸν χαράξας Μωσῆς, ἐπ᾿ εὐθείας ῥάβδῳ, τὴν Ἐρυθρὰν διέτεμε, τῷ Ἰσραὴλ πεζεύσαντι, τὴν δὲ ἐπιστρεπτικῶς, Φαραὼ τοῖς ἅρμασι κροτήσας ἥνωσεν· ἐπ᾿ εὔρους διαγράψας, τὸ ἀήττητον ὅπλον, διὸ Χριστῷ ᾄσωμεν· τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὅτι δεδόξασται». Τὸν τύπον πάλαι Μωσῆς, τοῦ ἀχράντου πάθους, ἐν ἑαυτῷ προέφηνε, τῶν ἱερῶν μεσούμενος, Σταυρῷ δὲ σχηματισθείς, τεταμέναις τρόπαιον, παλάμαις ἤγειρε, τὸ κράτος διολέσας, Ἀμαλὴκ τοῦ πανώλους· διὸ Χριστῷ ᾄσωμεν, τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὅτι δεδόξασται. Ἀνέθηκε Μωϋσῆς, ἐπὶ στήλης ἄκος, φθοροποιοῦ λυτήριον, καὶ ἰοβόλου δήγματος· καὶ ξύλῳ τύπῳ Σταυροῦ, τὸν πρὸς γῆν συρόμενον, ὄφιν προσέδησεν, ἐγκάρσιον ἐν τούτῳ, θριαμβεύσας τὸ πῆμα· διὸ Χριστῷ ᾄσωμεν, τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὅτι δεδόξασται. Ὑπέδειξεν οὐρανός, τοῦ Σταυροῦ τὸ τρόπαιον, τῷ εὐσεβείας κράτορι, καὶ Βασιλεῖ θεόφρονι, ἐχθρῶν ἐν ᾧ δυσμενῶν, κατεβλήθη φρύαγμα· ἀπάτη ἀνετράπη δέ· καὶ πίστις ἐφηπλώθη, γῆς τοῖς πέρασι θεία· διὸ Χριστῷ ᾄσωμεν, τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ὅτι δεδόξασται.   ᾨδὴ γ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς   «Ῥάβδος εἰς τύπον τοῦ μυστηρίου παραλαμβάνεται· τῷ βλαστῷ γὰρ προκρίνει τὸν ἱερέα, τῇ στειρευούσῃ δὲ πρώην, Ἐκκλησία νῦν ἐξήνθησε, ξύλον Σταυροῦ, εἰς κράτος καὶ στερέωμα». Ὡς ἐπαφῆκε ῥαπιζομένη ὕδωρ ἀκρότομος, ἀπειθοῦντι λαῷ, καὶ σκληροκαρδίῳ, τῆς θεοκλήτου ἐδήλου, Ἐκκλησίας τὸ μυστήριον, ἧς ὁ Σταυρός, τὸ κράτος καὶ στερέωμα. Πλευρᾶς ἀχράντου λόγχῃ τρωθείσης, ὕδωρ σὺν αἵματι ἐξεβλήθη, ἐγκαινίζον διαθήκην, καὶ ῥυπτικὸν ἁμαρτίας· τῶν πιστῶν γὰρ Σταυρὸς καύχημα, καὶ Βασιλέων κράτος καὶ στερέωμα.   ᾨδὴ δ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς   «Εἰσακήκοα Κύριε, τῆς οἰκονομίας σου τὸ μυστήριον, κατενόησα τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ ἐδόξασά σου τὴν Θεότητα». Πικρογόνους μετέβαλε, ξύλῳ Μωϋσῆς πηγὰς ἐν ἐρήμῳ πάλαι, τῷ Σταυρῷ πρὸς τὴν εὐσέβειαν, τῶν ἐθνῶν προφαίνων τὴν μετάθεσιν. Ὁ βυθῷ κολπωσάμενος, τέμνουσαν ἀνέδωκεν Ἰορδάνης ξύλῳ, τῷ Σταυρῷ καὶ τῷ Βαπτίσματι, τὴν τομὴν τῆς πλάνης τεκμαιρόμενος. Ἱερῶς προστοιβάζεται, ὁ τετραμερὴς λαὸς προηγούμενος, τῆς ἐν τύπῳ μαρτυρίου σκηνῆς, σταυροτύποις τάξεσι κλεϊζόμενος. Θαυμαστῶς ἐφαπλούμενος, τὰς ἡλιακὰς βολὰς ἐξηκόντισεν, ὁ Σταυρός· καὶ διηγήσαντο, οὐρανοὶ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.   ᾨδὴ ε' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς   «Ὦ τρισμακάριστον ξύλον, ἐν ᾧ ἐτάθη Χριστός, ὁ Βασιλεὺς καὶ Κύριος· δι᾿ οὗ πέπτωκεν ὁ ξύλῳ ἀπατήσας, τῷ ἐν σοὶ δελεασθείς, Θεῷ τῷ προσπαγέντι σαρκί, τῷ παρέχοντι, τὴν εἰρήνην ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν». Σὲ τὸ ἀοίδιμον ξύλον, ἐν ᾧ ἐτάθη Χριστός, τὴν Ἐδὲμ φυλάττουσα, στρεφομένη ῥομφαία, Σταυρὲ ᾐδέσθη, τὸ φρικτὸν δὲ Χερουβίμ, εἶξε τῷ σοὶ παγέντι Χριστῷ, τῷ παρέχοντι, τὴν εἰρήνην ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν. Ὑποχθονίων δυνάμεις, ἀντίπαλοι τοῦ Σταυροῦ, φρίττουσι χαραττόμενον, τὸ σημεῖον ἐν ἀέρι ᾧ πολοῦσιν· οὐρανίων γηγενῶν, γένος δὲ γόνυ κάμπτει Χριστῷ, τῷ παρέχοντι, τὴν εἰρήνην ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν. Μαρμαρυγαῖς ἀκηράτοις, φανεὶς ὁ θεῖος Σταυρός, ἐσκοτισμένοις ἔθνεσι, τοῖς ἐν πλάνῃ ἀπάτης τὸ θεῖον φέγγος, ἀπαστράψας οἰκειοῖ, τῷ ἐν αὐτῷ παγέντι Χριστῷ, τῷ παρέχοντι, τὴν εἰρήνην ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν.   ᾨδὴ ς' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς   «Νοτίου θηρὸς ἐν σπλάγχνοις, παλάμας Ἰωνᾶς, σταυροειδῶς διεκπετάσας, τὸ σωτήριον πάθος προδιετύπου σαφῶς· ὅθεν τριήμερος ἐκδύς, τὴν ὑπερκόσμιον Ἀνάστασιν ὑπεζωγράφησε, τοῦ σαρκὶ προσπαγέντος, Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τριημέρῳ ἐγέρσει, τὸν κόσμον φωτίσαντος». Ὁ γήρᾳ καμφθείς, καὶ νόσῳ τρυχωθείς, ἀνωρθοῦτο Ἰακὼβ χεῖρας ἀμείψας, τὴν ἐνέργειαν φαίνων τοῦ ζωηφόρου Σταυροῦ· τὴν παλαιότητα καὶ γάρ, τοῦ νομικοῦ σκιώδους, γράμματος ἐκαινογράφησεν, ὁ ἐν τούτῳ σαρκὶ προσπαγεὶς Θεός, καὶ τὴν ψυχόλεθρον νόσον, τῆς πλάνης ἀπήλασε. Νεαζούσαις θεὶς παλάμας, ὁ θεῖος Ἰσραήλ, σταυροειδῶς κάραις ἐδήλου, ὡς πρεσβύτερον κλέος ὁ νομολάτρης λαός· ὑποπτευθεὶς ὅθεν οὕτως ἐξηπατῆσθαι, οὐκ ἠλλοίωσε τὸν ζωηφόρον τύπον· ὑπερέξει λαὸς γὰρ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, νεοπαγὴς ἀνεβόα, Σταυρῷ τειχιζόμενος.   ᾨδὴ ζ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς   «Ἔκνοον πρόσταγμα τυράννου δυσσεβοῦς, λαοὺς ἐκλόνησε, πνέον ἀπειλῆς καὶ δυσφημίας θεοστυγοῦς· ὅμως τρεῖς Παῖδας οὐκ ἐδειμάτωσε, θυμὸς θηριώδης, οὐ πῦρ βρόμιον· ἀλλ᾿ ἀντηχοῦντι δροσοβόλῳ πνεύματι, πυρὶ συνόντες ἔψαλλον· ὁ ὑπερύμνητος, τῶν Πατέρων καὶ ἡμῶν, Θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἶ». Ξύλου γευσάμενος ὁ πρῶτος ἐν βροτοῖς, φθορᾷ παρῴκησε· ῥίψιν γὰρ ζωῆς ἀτιμοτάτην κατακριθείς, ὅλῳ τῷ γένει σωματοφθόρος τις, ὡς λύμη τῆς νόσου μετέδωκεν· ἀλλ᾿ εὑρηκότες γηγενεῖς ἀνάκλησιν, Σταυροῦ τὸ ξύλον κράζομεν· Ὁ ὑπερύμνητος, τῶν Πατέρων καὶ ἡμῶν, Θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἶ. Ἔλυσε πρόσταγμα Θεοῦ παρακοή, καὶ ξύλον ἤνεγκε θάνατον βροτοῖς, τὸ μὴ εὐκαίρως μεταληφθέν· ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ τῆς ἐριτίμου δέ, ἐντεῦθεν ζωῆς τὸ ξύλον εἴργετο, ὃ νυκτιλόχου δυσθανοῦς ἠνέῳξεν, εὐγνωμοσύνης κράζοντος· ὁ ὑπερύμνητος, τῶν Πατέρων καὶ ἡμῶν, Θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἶ. Ῥάβδου προσπτύσσεται τὸ ἄκρον, Ἰωσήφ, ὁ γενησόμενον, βλέπων, Ἰσραήλ, τῆς βασιλείας τὸ κραταιόν, ὅπως συνέξει ὁ ὑπερένδοξος Σταυρὸς προδηλῶν· οὗτος γὰρ τοῖς βασιλεῦσι, τροπαιοῦχον καύχημα, καὶ φῶς τοῖς πίστει κράζουσιν· ὁ ὑπερύμνητος, τῶν Πατέρων καὶ ἡμῶν, Θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἶ.   ᾨδὴ η' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Εὐλογεῖτε Παῖδες, τῆς Τριάδος ἰσάριθμοι, δημιουργὸν Πατέρα Θεόν· ὑμνεῖτε τὸν συγκαταβάντα Λόγον, καὶ τὸ πῦρ εἰς δρόσον μεταποιήσαντα· καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε, τὸ πᾶσι ζωὴν παρέχον, Πνεῦμα πανάγιον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας». Ὑψουμένου ξύλου, ῥαντισθέντος ἐν αἵματι, τοῦ σαρκωθέντος Λόγου Θεοῦ, ὑμνεῖτε αἱ τῶν οὐρανῶν Δυνάμεις, βροτῶν τὴν ἀνάκλησιν ἑορτάζουσαι· Λαοὶ προσκυνεῖτε Χριστοῦ τὸν Σταυρόν, δι' οὗ τῷ κόσμῳ ἀνάστασις εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Γηγενεῖς παλάμαις, οἰκονόμοι τῆς χάριτος, Σταυρὸν οὗ ἔστη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, ὑψοῦτε ἱεροπρεπῶς καὶ Λόγχην, Θεοῦ Λόγου σῶμα ἀντιτορήσασαν. Ἰδέτωσαν ἔθνη πάντα τὸ σωτήριον, τοῦ Θεοῦ δοξάζοντα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Οἱ τῇ θείᾳ ψήφῳ, προκριθέντες ἀγάλλεσθε, Χριστιανῶν πιστοὶ Βασιλεῖς· καυχᾶσθε τῷ τροπαιοφόρῳ ὅπλῳ, λαχόντες θεόθεν, Σταυρὸν τὸν τίμιον· ἐν τούτῳ γὰρ φῦλα πολέμων, θράσος ἐπιζητοῦντα, σκεδάννυνται εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.   ᾨδὴ θ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Μυστικῶς εἶ Θεοτόκε Παράδεισος, ἀγεωργήτως βλαστήσασα Χριστόν, ὑφ' οὗ τὸ τοῦ Σταυροῦ, ζωηφόρον ἐν γῇ, πεφυτούργηται δένδρον· δι᾿ οὗ νῦν ὑψουμένου, προσκυνοῦντες αὐτὸν σὲ μεγαλύνομεν». Ἀγαλλέσθω τὰ δρυμοῦ ξύλα σύμπαντα, ἁγιασθείσης τῆς φύσεως αὐτῶν, ὑφ᾿ οὗ περ ἐξ ἀρχῆς, ἐφυτεύθη Χριστοῦ, τανυθέντος ἐν ξύλῳ· δι᾿ οὗ νῦν ὑψουμένου, προσκυνοῦμεν αὐτὸν καὶ μεγαλύνομεν. Ἱερὸν ἠγέρθη κέρας θεόφροσι, τῆς κεφαλῆς τῶν ἁπάντων ὁ Σταυρός, ἐν ᾧ ἁμαρτωλῶν νοουμένων, συνθλῶνται τὰ κέρατα πάντα, δι᾿ οὗ νῦν ὑψουμένου, προσκυνοῦμεν αὐτὸν καὶ μεγαλύνομεν.   Εἱρμὸς ἄλλος «Ὁ διὰ βρώσεως τοῦ ξύλου, τῷ γένει προσγενόμενος θάνατος, διὰ Σταυροῦ κατήργηται σήμερον· τῆς γὰρ Προμήτορος ἡ παγγενὴς κατάρα διαλέλυται, τῷ βλαστῷ τῆς ἁγνῆς Θεομήτορος, ἣν πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις, τῶν οὐρανῶν μεγαλύνουσι». Μὴ τὴν πικρίαν τὴν τοῦ ξύλου, ἐάσας ἀναιρέσιμον Κύριε, διὰ Σταυροῦ τελείως ἐξήλειψας· ὅθεν καὶ ξύλον ἔλυσε ποτέ, πικρίαν ὑδάτων Μερρᾶς, προτυποῦν τοῦ Σταυροῦ τὴν ἐνέργειαν· ἣν πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις, τῶν οὐρανῶν μεγαλύνουσιν. Ἀδιαλείπτως βαπτομένους, τῷ ζόφῳ τοῦ προπάτορος Κύριε, διὰ Σταυροῦ ἀνύψωσας σήμερον· ὡς γὰρ τῇ πλάνῃ ἄγαν ἀκρατῶς, ἡ φύσις προκατηνέχθη, παγκλήρως ἡμᾶς πάλιν ἀνώρθωσε, τὸ φῶς τὸ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου· ὃν οἱ πιστοὶ μεγαλύνομεν. Ἴνα τὸν τύπον ὑποδείξῃς, τῷ κόσμῳ προσκυνούμενον Κύριε, τόν τοῦ Σταυροῦ ἐν πᾶσιν ὡς ἔνδοξον, ἐν οὐρανῷ ἐμόρφωσας, φωτὶ ἀπλέτῳ ἠγλαϊσμένον, Βασιλεῖ πανοπλίαν ἀήττητον· ἣν πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις, τῶν οὐρανῶν μεγαλύνουσιν.

The Canon, which bears the acrostic Trusting in the Cross, I burst out in song. A poem by Lord Kosmas Ode 1 Tone 8 The Heirmos Inscribing the invincible weapon of the Cross upon the waters, Moses marked a straight line before him with his staff and divided the Red Sea, opening a path for Israel who went over dry-shod.  Then he marked a second line across the waters and united them in one, overwhelming the chariots of Pharaoh [Ex 14:21-29].  Therefore, let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.         MKW In times past Moses, standing between the two men of God [Aaron and Hur, Ex 17:10-14], prefigured in his person the undefiled Passion. Forming a Cross with his outstretched hands, he raised a standard of victory and overthrew the power of all-destroying Amalek.  Therefore let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.  MKW After raising up a staff as a cure against the deadly and poisonous bite of the serpents, Moses placed upon it crosswise, as a symbol of the Cross, a serpent. In this manner he triumphed over calamity. Therefore, let us praise Christ our God, for He has been glorified.             LRD  The Cross was revealed in the heavens as a sign of victory to Constantine, the holy king and defender of the faith. Through this sign the proud contempt of his enemies was conquered, deceit was overthrown, and the divine faith was spread to the ends of the earth. Therefore, let us praise Christ our God, for He has been glorified.                               LRD Ode 3 The Heirmos The rod of Aaron is an image of this mystery, for when it budded forth it showed who should be priest. So in the Church, that once was barren, the wood of the Cross hath now put forth the flower, filling her with strength and steadfastness.                                                                                          MKW When the rock was struck and gushed forth water for a calloused and disobedient people, it manifested the mystery of the Church, chosen by God; for the Cross is her steadfastness and might.                                                       LRD When your immaculate side was pierced with a spear, O Lord, immediately there flowed out water and blood, thereby establishing the New Testament and washing away sin. For the Cross is the glory of the faithful and the power and steadfastness of kings.                                                    LRD Ode 4 The Heirmos O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation: I have considered Thy works, and I have glorified Thy Divinity.                                                                                MKW In times past, Moses transformed the bitter wells in the desert with wood; thereby, he prefigured the spreading of the gospel to the Gentiles through the Cross.                    LRD In the days of old, a sharp axe fell into the deep waters of the Jordan; the axe was returned when a stick of wood was thrown into the waters. This prefigured the cutting down of error by the Cross and baptism.                                      LRD The people of Israel, a sacred army drawn up in four divisions, marched in this figure before the Ark of the testimony, gaining glory by their ranks formed in the sign of the Cross [4 Kings (2 Kings) 6:4-7].                               MKW The heavens declare the glory of God; and the Cross, extended in a wondrous manner, sends forth rays as the sun.                                                                                           LRD   Ode 5 The Heirmos O thrice-blessed Tree, on which Christ the king and Lord was stretched! Through thee the beguiler fell, * who tempted mankind with the tree. For he was caught in the trap set by God, who was crucified upon thee in the flesh, granting peace unto our souls.                                          MKW O famous Wood, you are blessed in song for being the Cross on which Christ was crucified. The fiery revolving sword by which Eden was guarded feared you, and the awesome Cherubim bowed down to Christ who was crucified upon you in the flesh. Through this mystery, peace has been granted to our souls.                                   LRD When the powers of darkness see the sign of the Cross raised on high, they tremble; the multitude of angels and saints in heaven, together with the people on earth, bow down before Christ who grants peace to our souls.          LRD The holy Cross showers its divine light of pure rays upon the people darkened by the deception of error; and it reconciles them to Christ who was crucified upon it, thereby granting peace to our souls.                                   LRD   Ode 6 The Heirmos Jonah stretched out his hands in the form of a Cross within the belly of the sea monster, plainly prefiguring the redeeming Passion. Cast out from thence after three days, he foreshadowed the marvelous Resurrection of Christ our God, who was crucified in the flesh and enlightened the world by His Rising on the third day. MKW Bent with age and wasted by sickness, Jacob was straightened when he crossed his hands [to bless his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, Gen 48:14], thus showing the power of the life-giving Cross. For God who was crucified on it in the flesh thus rewrote the letter of the old law that was in shadows, and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error.                                                 MKW When Jacob placed his hands upon the heads of his grandsons in the form of a cross, he indicated that those who serve under the Law would enjoy for a time the honor that is due to the firstborn. Although the error of his act was noticed, he did not change the life-giving figure; for he announced that the newly-formed people of Christ our God, strengthened by the Cross, shall have the higher place.                                                                                         LRD Ode 7 The Heirmos The senseless decree of the wicked tyrant, breathing forth threats and blasphemy hateful to God, confused the people. Yet neither the fury of the wild beast nor the roaring of the fire could frighten the three Children: but standing together in the flame, fanned by the wind that brought refreshment as the dew, they sang: ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O our God and the God of our Fathers.’                                                                          MKW By eating of the tree, Adam inherited a corruptible life. He was exiled from Paradise, and his body was prone to corruption which was passed on to his descendants like a disease. But those of the earth, who acknowledge the wood of the Cross as their vindication, cry aloud: You are praised and blessed above all, O God of our Fathers.                    LRD Death came into the world by the partaking of the fruit of the tree; the breaking of the law of God came through disobedience. The Tree of precious life was carefully guarded until the confession of the good thief. He made it accessible once again by crying out as he departed this life: You are praised and blessed above all, O God of our Fathers.                                                                                     LRD Israel, foreseeing the future, did reverence to the top of Joseph’s staff [Gen 47:31], revealing how in times to come the most glorious Cross should be the safeguard of royal power. For it is a triumphal glory to kings, and a light to those who cry with faith: Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O our God and the God our fathers.                MKW   Ode 8 The Heirmos O ye Children, equal in number to the Trinity, bless ye God the Father and creator; sing ye the praises of the Word who descended and changed the fire to dew; and exalt ye above all for ever the most Holy Spirit, who giveth life unto all.                                                                              MKW When the Cross that is sprinkled with the blood of the incarnate Word is raised up, all you powers of heaven sing praises, celebrating the reconciliation of the human race. All you faithful, venerate the Cross of Christ; for through it, resurrection was granted to the world forever.                 LRD Let the priests reverently raise up the Cross on which Christ our God was hung, and exalt the lance that pierced the body of the Word of God. Let all people see the salvation of God and glorify Him forever.                         LRD Rejoice, all you faithful Christian kings, chosen beforehand by a divine decree. Receive the precious Cross from God and make this victorious weapon your glory, for by it, the enemy tribes that hastily seek battle are overthrown forever.                                                                                     LRD       Ode 9 The Heirmos O Theotokos, thou art a mystical Paradise, who untilled brought forth Christ, Who Himself planted upon the earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross: Therefore celebrating its exaltation on this day, Him do we worship and thee do we magnify.                                                    MKW Let all the trees of the forest exalt, for they are made holy by Christ who planted them in the beginning and who was stretched out upon the Tree. On this day of its exaltation, we worship Him and extol you, O Cross.                          LRD The Cross is marked upon the foreheads of all God’s people, and it is raised up as their sacred horn of strength. By it, all the horns of the spiritual powers of evil are crushed. Therefore, on this day of its exaltation, we worship Him and extol you, O Cross.                                 LRD   Another Heirmos Today the death that came to man through eating from the tree, is made of no effect through the Cross. For the curse of our Mother Eve that fell upon all mankind is destroyed by the fruit of the pure Mother of God, whom all the powers of heaven magnify.                                   MKW Not suffering the deadly bitterness of the tree still to remain, Thou hast utterly destroyed it through the Cross. In like manner of old did wood once destroy the bitterness of the waters of Marah [Ex 15:23-25], prefiguring the strength of the Cross that all the powers of heaven magnify.       MKW Through the Cross, O Lord, today Thou hast raised us up again, who were plunged continually in the gloom of our forefather. Unrestrained greed thrust down our nature into error: but now we have been restored to our full inheritance by the light of Thy Cross which we, the faithful, magnify.                                                                                 MKW To show the world, O Lord, the figure of the Cross, reverenced in all places as most glorious, Thou hast formed it in the sky, shining with boundless light, unconquerable armour for the King [Constantine]. This holy Cross do all the powers of heaven magnify.                                          MKW

This insert is a gift from our Byzantine School.  We invite you to join us on the last Wednesday of each month at 6 pm, as we explore the selection of liturgy “specials” for each week, and other issues related to the liturgical services of our Church. Next mtg – 01/29/14. Please consult the Sunday Bulletin for our regular announcements, or contact Tasos Ioannides, ioanniam@uc.edu or (513)556-3137.  Translation Sources: MKW= Metropolitan Kallistos Ware; LRD= http://lit.royaldoors.net/2013/09/03/september-14-2013-the-universal-exaltation